Thoughts on the New Orc Bard Hero?

[Pancho]

Here’s an idea. Next time some creep gives you grief at the Heroquest table, just tell them that you are playing with the orc bard Hero. They’ll probably do a runner and leave you in peace for ever after.

Judging by this thread, they will rant at you for an hour about forcing them to view something with diversity, yell randomly about SJWs, and how complain about how everything is being ruined.

It’s possible I suppose. Wouldn’t make them any less right though.
by the way if you are triggered by the phrase Social Justice Warrior, then others are available. Cuck, NPC, Regressive etc.

[Davane]

there is nothing wrong with asking for accountability and decency at the game table.

Asking for accountability and decency at the game table is fine. The whole point of gaming is to have fun, for everyone. May I recommend that you read this - Consent in Gaming.

But that is completely different from forcing an Orc Bard into HQ, despite the fact that HQ has Objective Evil, and the lore as it exists simply doesn't accommodate an Orc Bard. It's like when EA decides that what The Sims really needs, is a Star Wars expansion pack. The motivation behind the inclusion is out of whack, and doesn't appear to be for the benefit of the lore.

It became an SJW issue when Diversity in D&D started with the whole Orcs are people too. That's fine, for D&D. There's plenty of settings where Orcs aren't just cannon fodder or grunt mobs. There's stories about Orc integration, and monster races finding homelands, and even created monsters seeking independence and the right to live their own lives. There's plenty of games and settings where social issues can be tackled, properly, appropriately, and for the fun of all. D&D, like most RPGs, have been covering these kinds of stories for over 40 years.

HQ, as it stands, is not one of those games or settings, and it's not designed to be. At least, it isn't at this time. If Hasbro sufficiently changes the lore in a reasonable manner, so that they can justify an Orc Bard, then great. I'm all for it. But right now, it seems the Orc Bard is only an Orc because the Elf was already taken, and the designer wanted to try and be different, disregarding the HQ setting and the role Orcs currently play. This leads to so many unanswered questions that the Orc Bard seems gimmicky and forced, for reasons that seem less about improving HQ every day.

[cornixt]

by the way if you are triggered by the phrase Social Justice Warrior, then others are available. Cuck, NPC, Regressive etc.

But those phrases are only used by incels, MRAs, people who have waifu pillows, and people who believe that the redpill is real. You wouldn't want anyone to think that you wear a fedora and have a neckbeard.

[warlordaxe]

Wow haven’t been to the forum for a couple of weeks and I’m ha ha ha.... I’m glad there are people around here that can see what’s going on with hobbies and etc. but not surprised by people who don’t. So many of the things I like have been ruined or changed for the worse and here I thought Heroquest would be untouchable. The minute I saw that warlock and it’s creator I was like “ here we go again, hang on to your butts”. Ofcourse it was the first stretch goal to reach not the chaos warriors or the dark dragon quest, the only thing that warlock mini is good for is a sorcerer of Slaanesh.

[Orc26]

Anyone else give the orc bard a try in a play test? Just wondering if others had the same opinion of his spells and the rapier as I did.

[Davane]

Anyone else give the orc bard a try in a play test? Just wondering if others had the same opinion of his spells and the rapier as I did.

The Rapier doesn't need playtesting, because it's basically the EU version of the Short Sword. I already changed the name to Rapier and included it in with existing equipment, since I play a hybrid of UK and UK rules via Roll20 right now.

The Bard's spells (until further information, I am ignoring that the character is an Orc, because it just doesn't make sense, compared to say an Elven or Human Bard) seem fine.

Inspiring Tale is basically a reusable half-strength Courage spell. I am tempted to allow it to affect ALL Heroes you can "see", because it's half strength and only lasts for 1 attack. I'd consider changing the duration to "any attack until the start of your next turn." This way, the team focus of the Bard is increased, and the Bard doesn't necessarily have to try and predict which Hero would get the most use out of it.

Healing Song is a group healing spell, but I think that 2 BP per hero you can see is a bit strong, as that can mean the party regains up to 8 BP in total. It's essentially giving a half strength Heal Body spell to every hero. Personally, I'd consider reducing Healing Song to just restoring 1 BP per hero, for a total of 4 BPs restored, keeping it the same strength as Heal Body.

Lullaby is basically a Sleep spell. Personally, I with HQ would stop using Red Dice for Mind Points, when you have the Combat Dice available. 1 in 6 chance is rolling a Black Shield, so why not just have targets resisting the spell on a Black Shield instead?

The Bard itself seems an okay hero, that's not that different from the Elf. Slightly weaker 5 BP rather than 6 BP for no real reason. It's essentially an Elf with the Water spells, but Veil of Mist is replaced by a returnable Courage.

As for the Bard's ability to gain +1 Defence Die when not wearing Armour, I would consider altering that slightly. Swashbucklers are named after the bucklers they would "swash" to try and distract foes. So, I would consider letting the Bard use a Shield, and still gain the bonus Defence Die. The restrictions should be that the Bard doesn't get the bonus Defence Die when wearing Armour or a Helmet.

The Bard with a Shield could have a Defence of 4 Dice (2 Base, +1 Shield, +1 Bard) which is equivalent to a Bard wearing Plate Mail anyway. A Bard can still get a Defence of 6 Dice from wearing Platemail, Shield, and a Helmet - as the Bard isn't restricted from wearing Armour, Shields, or Helmets.

The phrasing of "non-metal Armour" implies that either the Bard CAN use Wizard-Only Armour, or that non-metal Armour is going to be added to the game, possibly meaning that all Armour values will be increased by +1 Die.

So, Leather = +1 (for 3 Dice), Chain = +2 (for 4 Dice), and Plate = +3 (for 5 Dice). You can then get a Shield and a Helmet for an extra +2 Defence Dice, for a possible total of 7 Defence Dice without spells.

[mk4000]

Finally I can use the 3d printed kobold bard for something! I'll have a Kobold!

I actually printed out the cards with a little dabbling in Publisher. Though I don't think my printer is that great at lining up the card backs

[Kurgan]

I'd heard about kobolds for years (never a D&D player, I), and it turns out its just another term for "goblin" (and "hobgoblins" are just bigger goblins, which in terms of some streams of development, is an Orc... although an Orc could also just be the physical form of a demon). Which reminds me... reading through Lord of the Rings (and really paying attention this time) I was noticing the Tom Bombadil sections and seeing that Wights are part of that world (zombies, though with quite interesting twists like cocooning prisoners in treasure tombs). Some of these monsters you hear about and don't really investigate and they turn out be something more than you expected. Not that HQ needs to be beholden to Tolkien (but none of us can fail to acknowledge the wide shadow he casts over modern fantasy)!

Then again, your imagination is really the only limiting factor...

[mk4000]

Usually depends on the game. but kobolds could be more goblin like, or more like mini dragons. Everyone's world is their own so also cat people are common too for me.

[Pancho]

I'd heard about kobolds for years (never a D&D player, I), and it turns out its just another term for "goblin" (and "hobgoblins" are just bigger goblins, which in terms of some streams of development, is an Orc... although an Orc could also just be the physical form of a demon). Which reminds me... reading through Lord of the Rings (and really paying attention this time) I was noticing the Tom Bombadil sections and seeing that Wights are part of that world (zombies, though with quite interesting twists like cocooning prisoners in treasure tombs). Some of these monsters you hear about and don't really investigate and they turn out be something more than you expected. Not that HQ needs to be beholden to Tolkien (but none of us can fail to acknowledge the wide shadow he casts over modern fantasy)!

Then again, your imagination is really the only limiting factor...

A few years ago when reading William Blake I was quite surprised to see him use the name "Orc". Considering Blake was writing about this stuff in the early 1800's, it predates Tolkien's use of the term. Blake used it to refer to a character rather than a species, and Orc is a Luciferian type entity very different from Tolkien's conception of an orc.
"Orc is described as ‘Lover of Wild Rebellion, and transgressor of God’s Law.’ He symbolises the spirit of rebellion and the love of freedom which provoked the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. Orc is a vigorous youth, surrounded by the fires of revolutionary passion and unrepressed lust."
Tolkien drew heavily on mythology, like Blake did, and may have just taken the name without making use of the archetype on that occasion.

I completely understand the notion that we are not beholden to Tolkien, but of course we owe a huge amount of gratitude to the great man. I can't help but feel that he must be spinning in his grave seeing what Hasbro have done with their orc bard, or reading some of the apologies for it on this thread. We have heard the phrase "pygmies standing on the shoulders of giants" to describe a great fall from epic source material, but in this case it's more like Clowns juggling on the backs of Leviathans.